The next day the staff were abuzz with Ella’s daring. Dr. and Mrs. Durant were not as impressed. After breakfast they pulled her aside to speak about it away from the staff.
“Ella, if you put as much effort into finding a husband as into your marksmanship you might actually be successful,” her father said.
“For heaven’s sake, Ella, what were you doing up with the men anyway, sitting around a campfire talking about who knows what?” Hannah said.
“William was with me, Mother. And I wasn’t the only woman present, Louise was there with her brother Ike.”
“I hardly think you should be comparing your manners with that of Indians. And William or not, you must comport yourself like a dignified lady,” Dr. Durant said.
“Really? Or else what? Who of our society is here to report back to the papers any scandal I may bring to the family name?”
“Mind how you speak to me,” Dr. Durant said, fixing her with an icy stare.
“You really should try harder not to antagonize father,” William chided Ella as she sat on the other end of the boat he was rowing across the lake. The two of them had snuck away from the camp to explore Osprey Island after the picture-taking that morning.
Ella gave a most unladylike snort. “It doesn’t take much to antagonize him. And aren’t you being somewhat hypocritical? After all, you handed me the gun. You know as well as I do I’m as good at hitting my mark as any man.”
William scowled. “Yes, I know. We all know, but that isn’t the point. When he scolds you, you should say you are sorry meekly and move along. Instead you stand your ground and fight him and you know how much he hates it. It has always surprised me that he never disciplined you with force the way most fathers would to make you obey.”
Ella scowled back. “If he wanted me to be obedient he should’ve been around more often to teach me to be so.”
“Well said, but believe me, if you’re not more careful, he’ll find other ways to make you comply with his wishes. And you know as well as I do that isn’t what you want.”
Ella put her hand into the water and let it skim the surface as William rowed. The water felt cool and lovely. Blue Mountain stood like a majestic guard in the background. At once dark, then light, the sun’s rays cast shadows on the forest range as it peeked in and out of the white cumulus clouds in the sky.
All morning long they had been forced to pose while the photographer, Stoddard, took pictures of them and their rustic lodgings as Papa shouted out orders.
“We need to portray the family enjoying themselves: reading on the porch, eating in the open air dining cabin, strolling along the paths,” he had said.
After modeling for what seemed like hours, she jumped at the chance to join William and get away from the Durant camp — now called Pine Knot, as William had talked their father into the name, acting like it was his find, his idea. William knew Papa would never agree if he thought Ella was the mastermind behind it.
“A bit of a farce this morning wasn’t it?” Ella turned her attention away from the clouds toward William.
“Anything to drum up more investors in his grand Adirondack Company Railroad scheme,” William said. He strained at the oars for a moment as a swift wind picked up and riffled the water.
“You seem enamored by the young Indian woman,” she said.
William was visibly flustered by her directness. “Who I may find attractive is none of your damn business, Ella.”
“Well, you and I both know it will eventually become father’s,” Ella said.
William thought for a moment and then said, “Which reminds me, how is your Muse of Malden-on-the-Hudson?”
Ella flashed an angry look at William. He was trying to rile her she knew, but she was not going to fall into the trap.
“You know better than I do. Poultney only communicates with me through you. I haven’t seen him since my last visit to New York City.”
William remained silent.
“Have you seen him lately?” she asked.
Picking up on Ella’s eagerness for news of Poultney Bigelow despite her attempt to sound casual, William relented. “I haven’t seen him at the clubs in New York in a while. I’m sure he’ll send news, or a letter as soon as he’s able to do so. You know he cares about your writing.”
“Who’s this Murray fellow we’re going to visit?”
“Henry Murray? He’s a clergyman and writer from Boston I think you might enjoy meeting. He’s written several articles and a book called Adventures in the Wilderness. They call him ‘Adirondack Murray’ around here. The guides claim it’s because of him their trade has doubled these past few years. People from all over are coming to the Adirondacks to experience the ‘spiritual cleansing the woods provide’,” William said.
“You say that with a note of sarcasm. How, after all, do you expect to make the family’s fortune if people don’t long to experience this?” Ella waved her hands in the air to encompass the clear blue sky, the lake and forested mountains that were their backdrop.
“I have no problem with people coming here as long as they know why they’re here. Father’s idea is for the masses to bring all the trappings of city life with them that they feign trying to escape.”
Ella smiled. “Willie, you’re such a romantic! If it were up to you we would all wear the guides’ clothing, stalk the woods for deer and fish for trout in the stream for our supper. Never mind the caviar and biscuits, the fine French wine, the cigars! Who needs them when we have all of this to please us!” Ella let out a laugh. William frowned at her.
“Have your fun now, but listen carefully, when we arrive at Osprey Island try to stay quiet. I need to talk to old Murray and see what this business is of his letting Alvah Dunning build a cabin and icehouse. I’m not sure what Alvah is up to, but father has asked me to look into it for cousin Charles. He wants to purchase this island to build his own home and sell off the rest to father. I need your cooperation. For once, pretend you’re in North Creek, not a London tea parlor, and act like a simpleton.”
“Yes William, anything you say.” Ella stifled a laugh, put on her most serious face, and half-bowed to him from her seated position on the end of the boat.
They landed on shore and Murray greeted them with a hearty handshake.
“It is a pleasure to be in the company of another writer,” he said to Ella.
“Why yes, I am writing a book of poetry,” she replied, delighted that someone was interested enough to comment on her passion.
“Well, I write adventures myself,” Murray said.
“Like Tom Sawyer?”
“No, more like do it yourself adventures. I’m trying to get people to understand and appreciate the allure of this place. ‘The wilderness provides the perfect relaxation which all jaded minds require’,” he said, quoting from his book.
“So I understand,” Ella said.
William brought the conversation back to business. “I see there are some new cabins on the property since we last came out to visit Henry.”
“Alvah has taken up residence, and I allowed him to build a small cabin and icehouse for his guiding business. You know how popular he is with the Bostonians and New Yorkers,” Murray said. “Besides, I’m not planning on staying here. I’ll be moving on to other locations, seeking out other places to visit in these woods. Osprey Island was always a way-stop for me. Alvah can have it to himself.”
Ella left the men to discuss business and wandered around to see what else was on the island. She walked along the shore, picking up pieces of shale and skimming them over the surface of the water as Ike had showed her. The island was deserted. Although she liked the peace, she decided living on an island would be taking solitude too far.
She came upon a canoe, half in the water, half on shore. It was a beautiful craft, covered by some type of gray bark. She wondered how it would float in the water. Unable to resist the impulse, she pushed it offshore and got in, getting her petticoats and sheepskin boots soaked while doing so.
“I should have changed into my walking clothes after those bloody photographs!” And then she was free-floating in the water. She lay down on the bottom of the boat and gazed up at the pillows in the sky. Cocooned from the wind, she felt the sun warming her face and body.
Time was suspended; she couldn’t hear a thing except the soft lapping of waves against the side of the craft. Ella searched for a word to describe the moment “Lethean,” she said. Pleased with the sound, she repeated it, “Like the River Lethe in Hades, one drink from it and you are completely oblivious of your past troubles,” she said to the air. Nothing answered back, until:
“What in tar-nation are you doing in my canoe!”
Startled, Ella bolted upright wondering where she was. Last thing she recalled was daydreaming in a small boat. Scanning the horizon she realized she had fallen asleep and was now in the middle of the lake. How did that happen so quickly and who was this strange man with the beard and sharp eyes, yelling at her from his boat alongside her?
“I am so sorry, sir! I am not sure how I ended up out here,” she stammered.
“Well, get the hell out of it!” the man yelled.
She hastily grabbed hold of the oar to row back to shore, looking around to see which way she needed to row.
“Here, you idjit woman. I’ll row you back to shore, you doing it will take twice as long as it should.” He tied a rope to the end of the canoe and towed her back.
Both Murray and William were standing on shore looking concerned.
“What the devil do you think you’re doing, Ella?” William was beside himself.
“I am so sorry, William.” She turned to the strange looking gangly man that had rescued her. “Thank you for your help.”
“That’s alright I guess.” The strange man calmed down. “I can’t fault a person for wanting to look up at the sky, even if it’s in my canoe, an even if it’s a woman.”
Ella immediately liked him. She put her hand out to greet his. “My name is Ella Durant.”
“Yes, well, I’d say pleased to meet you, Miss Doo’rant, but I’m not much with likin’ people less they’s paying me to like ‘em. My name is Alvah Dunning. People call me Snake Eyes, named by the Injuns round here and it stuck.”
Ella noticed his beady eyes and could see why he got the name. He had rather peculiar, sharp features. On his hip hung a long hunting knife and a rifle was strapped on his back.
“Ella, Alvah here is a legend. Our friends from New York would pay a month’s mortgage for the chance to be guided through the woods by this man,” William said.
“Well, then,” Murray said, “it looks like the get-away canoe and damsel in distress have been rescued, and no one was hurt by it.”
“Yeah,” Alvah said, turning his back to the group, he spat on the ground, and walked away.
William refused to talk to Ella the whole row back to Pine Knot. Worse, when they arrived Dr. Durant, who had not given her permission to go along with William, was pacing back and forth on the beachfront, seething.
“Your mother has been looking for you,” he said, glaring down at her as he helped her out of the boat. Ella stole looks back at William as she walked toward her cabin. He was conferring with their father on the shore, pointing in the direction of Osprey Island. After what seemed like too long, he looked up briefly, and waved to her. Ella smiled, and with a spring in her step, headed toward her cabin. She knew William couldn’t stay mad at her.
The next afternoon, Francis Stott and his wife Elizabeth came by in a boat rowed by a guide. After polite greetings all around, the two families retreated to the shade of the dining cabin for tea.
“How goes the hunting, Francis?” Dr. Durant asked.
“Well, for the past few days I’ve been out fishing mostly, planning on taking a chance with Alvah, scouting out deer tomorrow,” Stott said.
The name Alvah raised all heads in the Durant family.
“How is the building going?”
“Bluff Point’s perfect for us.”
“Where’s Bluff Point?” Ella asked.
“Right around the bend from here on the lake dear,” Elizabeth Stott said. “I know Jennie and the boys will be delighted to have a summer vacation home. It will be a relief from having to stay in these small cabins the guides built.”
“Yes, it’s about time Bennett followed through with his plans for a hotel on this lake, we sorely need more options for the visitors, especially for the ladies,” Dr. Durant said.
Hannah turned to Elizabeth Stott. “I’m afraid we have been without any newspapers to keep in touch with the world. What news do you have from New York?”
“Oh, have you heard that five of Commodore Vanderbilt’s offspring are suing for a larger share of the inheritance?” Elizabeth gasped as she placed her teacup back on its saucer.
“Oh dear!” Hannah said.
“Whatever for? The Commodore has made his wishes known. He wrote the will before he died,” Dr. Durant said.
“He left the bulk of his estate, ninety million mind you, to one son, William, and then the rest he doled out in various amounts to his children and grandchildren,” Elizabeth said. Flushed and excited from all the attention this gossip was creating for her, she paused to re-pin her hat in place as it had tilted off-kilter.
“Appears unfair to me,” Ella said.
“Balderdash,” Dr. Durant said. “I say it is all a farce. The man created a fortune with his own cunning. He can choose who is best fit to inherit it. That youngest son of his, Cornelius is it? Is an imbecile if you ask me. Borrowing money from wealthy friends using the Vanderbilt name as collateral when he had no intention of ever paying it back. He doesn’t deserve the inheritance.”
“The worst of it is that his children are dragging their father’s character through the mud in their deliberations. They’ve found themselves some high priced lawyers who have hired some equally high priced doctors who are going to testify that the Commodore was unfit and insane at the time he drafted his will,” Francis Stott said.
“I suppose the children believe that by denigrating his character they will earn sympathy from the judge?” Hannah said.
“That is not the all of it!” exclaimed Elizabeth. “They are claiming he was arrogant, over-bearing, and selfish.”
“So what else is new? Again I say, it is not the weak of heart that amass fortunes in today’s world.” Dr. Durant directed his steely eyes first at Hannah and then William.
“You may be right, Thomas. But I don’t agree with how he set up his will. He must have known that giving the bulk of his estate to one son would cause problems. The rest of it — ten million — may seem like a lot of money to us, but the Vanderbilt children are acting like scullery dogs fighting over scraps of food. It is shameful. And it is all being made public thanks to the New York Times,” Francis Stott said.
“Maybe he would have been better off leaving this world without a will,” Ella said.
All eyes turned on Ella.
“Don’t be daft, Ella,” William scoffed. “You don’t leave this world with a hundred million dollar estate and no will.”
“Think about it though. If he left no will, the children would contest it anyway. But they would be dragging each other’s names through the mud to gain a judge’s approval, and not their father’s,” Ella said.
They were all silenced by this. Hannah eyed her husband over her teacup, waiting for his response. He stayed silent. So did William.
“Now there is a clever idea indeed,” Elizabeth said.
Dr. Durant had had enough of the conversation. He rose to tell the guides to get the boats ready.
“The weather is perfect right now for a row, no wind,” he said.
Ella and Hannah went back to the cabin to change into walking skirts. Hannah picked up one of the small umbrellas she had brought to protect against the sun.
“You might think about using one as well. Your skin is too dark already,” she said to Ella.
“I have a hat on, that should suffice. Besides, I can’t help it if I have Papa’s skin color,” Ella retorted. Hannah shoved an umbrella into her hand.
The guides loaded the packs of food and drink into the boats and the party took off. Ella tried to get into the boat with William but Dr. Durant reprimanded her.
“William is with me. Go with your mother,” he said.
Ella wasn’t sure but she thought she heard Charlie Bennett snicker.
“I want to hear all about your book of poetry when we picnic on Golden Beach,” Elizabeth Stott said as she climbed into the boat with as much delicacy as her layered petticoats allowed.
They rowed to South Bay and landed at a place the natives called Golden Beach. The party put down blankets in the lean-to on shore. William and Ella walked the beach while their parents rested with the Stotts.
“I don’t understand it all. Why is father taking us on a tour around the lake as if he is prospecting for gold?” Ella picked up a small stone, threw it into the lake and watched it plink into the water.
“Not gold, land. Just take a look around,” William said. “Except for a few hundred acres he already owns here, the land around Raquette is all owned by the state. And if it isn’t owned by the state, then the state doesn’t know who owns it because people like Charlie Bennett and Alvah Dunning build these cabins and lean-tos in the woods and set up camp. It’s squatters rights.”
“Hah, that would never happen in England,” Ella snorted.
“We’re not in England anymore, Ella,” William said.
“Yes, I know that all too well,” she said.
“Here it’s the wild frontier, each man to his own. I have yet to see a game warden.”
“How exactly do people around here make a living? This land isn’t arable, and being a guide could hardly keep a family fed,” Ella said.
“Logging, guiding, trapping,” William said.
“William, Ella, come sit with us and have some lemonade,” Mrs. Stott called to them. They ended their conversation and walked back to the lean-to.
Ella was allowed to ride in the boat with William on the way back. While admiring the cedar-lined lakeshore, she saw a small cabin set back in the woods on a knoll made of logs cloaked in bark, nestled between the trees.
She pointed it out to William. “Who lives there?”
“That was one of Bennett’s cabins,” William said. “Father just acquired it from him.”
“It was a land-swap,” Bennett shouted from the stern.
As they rowed past, Ella saw Louise emerge from the front door, sweeping dirt out and down the wooden steps. She wore a white blouse and a long slim skirt that silhouetted her small figure. Louise looked up when she heard their voices echo over the water. Her eyes locked on William’s.
By late August the chilly air descended on the cabins at nightfall, which came earlier and earlier each evening. It was time to leave Camp Pine Knot. Ella regretted having to return to her dreary life in North Creek. At Pine Knot she spent time writing because her mother didn’t insist she dress for afternoon tea. And instead of the incessant chatter of her mother and Margaret, she could listen to the waves lapping along the shore. Not as majestic as the sea in England but still soothing.
But the cabin she and her mother shared was only insulated with sphagnum moss, and there was no fireplace, which made their departure inevitable.
While Dr. and Mrs. Durant instructed the guides and servants where to put their luggage, Ella searched for William. He hadn’t shown up with his packs. When he did arrive to say good-bye, he wasn’t dressed for travel nor did he have any luggage.
“Aren’t you coming?” Ella said.
William shook his head. “I’m staying behind through the fall. I want to be here when the leaves are all off the trees and continue with construction. I’m meeting with some local carpenters and masons. I told the Stotts I’d advise them on their building plans, and this is the best time of year to get a lay of the land on Bluff Point.”
Ella frowned. William had taken on the look of a native. He wore a felt cap with the front brim curled up at his forehead, wool knickers and tall hiking boots made of stiff-looking leather. His shirt was identical to Ike’s and the other guides — a long sleeved brown flannel. Not exactly the attire he was used to wearing. She wondered what had happened to his silk hat, frock coat and vest, his trousers, linen shirt with a collar and ascot.
“Don’t worry, the guides and servants are staying behind as well. Besides,” he whispered conspiratorially in her ear, “I can be free of him for a while. There’s no telegraph here.” William nodded in their father’s direction.
“But what about your job with the Railroad and apartment in New York City?” Ella said.
“Father wants Pine Knot developed enough that he can entertain his business associates by next summer. Potential investors, you know.”
“But then where shall I stay if you’re not in New York City?”
“Stay with Uncle Charles and cousin Estelle, or what about your friend Fran Murphy? Just make sure, whatever you do, you have an escort of whom father approves.”
“Hah, Papa would never approve if I showed up at the Opera on the arm of Poultney Bigelow! I still cannot figure out why he detests the man.”
“It’s not him, Ella, it’s his father John. John Bigelow has been writing some scathing reviews in the New York Evening Post about the Erie Canal ‘Ring’, a group of contractors he claims are skimming off money from the state for maintenance contracts on the Erie Canal. Many of these men in the so-called ‘Ring of Corruption’ are father’s associates.”
“He really knows how to pick his friends doesn’t he? Yes, Poultry’s told me all about this Erie Canal scandal,” Ella said. “But that has nothing to do with Poultney. I’d say Papa’s real gripe is that Poultney’s an intellectual, not a railroad tycoon.”
“Time to go,” he said kissing her on the forehead. “I’ll see you at Christmas. And then I’ll tell you all about the grand plans I have for this place.”
Ella wondered about Louise and where she was staying. Before she could ask him, Ike came and took her pack, “We’re going now, Miss Doo’Rant.” Ella followed the boy to the boat, looking back at William. He was already striding away, down a shoreline trail that led deep into the woods.